Carrier for snelled fish hooks



Nov. 26, 1929., w. 1... KNETTLES CARRIER FOR SNELLED FISHHOOKS Filed July 5. 1928 INVENTOR ATTORES Patented N... 26, 1929 STATES T: series P T E CARBTER FOR SNELLED FISH HOOKS Application filed. July 3, 1928. Serial No. 290,238.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved device for carrying snelled fish hooks and flies.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of my improved carrier;

Fig. 2 is an edge View;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary view of the opposite face of the carrier;

Fig. 4 a fragmentary view of the carrier with the snell-tensioning springs removed; and

Fig. 5 an edge view showing a plurality of carriers mounted between book covers.

The carrier comprises a flat frame in the form of plate 1 of substantially rectangular contour and made of non-corrosive sheet metal or other suitable, stifi light weight material. This plate forms a leaf which is adapted to be removably mounted between the covers of a loose leaf binding. To this end, spaced apertures 2 are formed in one of its side margins to receive the retaining rings of the binding. Centrally the plate is formed with a relatively large and substantially rectangular opening 3.

The lower margin of the plate or leaf 1 is formed with elongated tongues 4: which extend in a straight row along the lower edge of the central plate opening 3. These tongues are stamped out from the plate and are defined by parallel slits extending downward from the plate opening. At their lower ends the slits are spaced farther apart to define roots 5 for the tongues which are wider than the elongated shanks thereof. Each alternate root in the row is bent outward in the same direction from one face of the plate. The remaining roots are bent outward from the opposite face of the plate. The tongues are supported by these outwardly bent roots in positions alternately offset from the opposite faces of the plate and directed across the central plate opening 3.

Encircling each tongue 4 is a helical tension spring 6. These springs are for the purpose of tensioning the hook snells as will be described presently. At one end they are anchored to the the roots 5 of the tongues and their length is such that their coils terminate substantially at the free ends of the tongues. The end coils of the springs are bent out in the usual manner to form anchor loops 7 and 8. The anchorage between the springs and the widened tongue roots is effected by expanding the loops 7 and engaging them with said roots. The roots are made wider than the springs to necessitate the expansion of the loops 7 so that the latter will tightly engage the roots and prevent accidental displacement therefrom. At the opposite ends of the springs the loops 8 are free and extend out beyond the free ends of the tongues. The latter are rounded so as not to impede the contraction of the springs. The width of the tongues is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the springs and the tongues form cores which extend throughout the length of the contracted springs and serve to properly position them and protect them from crushing. 7

The upper margin of the plate 1 is formed with two rows of short tongues 9 and 10 respectively which are stamped out from the plate to form hooks. These hooks open away from the tongues 4 and are engaged by fish hooks to anchor the latter to the plate. The short hook-forming tongues 9 and 10 are defined by U-shaped-slits in the plate margin and the number of tongues in each row corresponds to the number of elongated tongues 4. They are also bent outward alternately from opposite faces of the plate corresponding to the bending of the tongues 4 so that each of the latter has a tongue 9 and also a more remote tongue 10 in alinement with it across the central frame opening 3.

The snelled hooks are attached to the carrier by first engaging the snell loops with the free loops 8 of the tension springs and then engaging the hooks in the frame hooks, extending the springs sufliciently to permit this to be done. The springs exert a tension which holds the snells stretched taut across the frame opening 3. Hooks provided with long snells are anchored to the upper hooks 10. Those provided with short snells are anchored to the lower hooks 9 to avoid excessive stretching of the springs and to properly equalize hooks are guarde the tension upon the different snells. When dry when not in use. It isalso desirable to I keep the book in which the carriers are mounted dry. The open, harp-like arrangement of the tensioned snells and their supporting frame permits a free circulation of air which quickly dries both the snells and the frame. The opening makes the plate lighter in weight and also makes it easier to get at the spring loops 8 and the anchored ends of the snells.

A plurality ofcarriers of the type just described are mounted between the covers of a loose leaf book B as shown in Fig. 5. This book is provided with the usual loose leaf hinge structure which includes the split rings B. These rings are expanded and inserted through the apertures 2 of the hook carriers. It will be observed that the staggered arrangement of the hooks, tongues and springs at opposite sides of the carriers enables the latter to nest compactly together without compression or injury. It will be noted also that the openings 3 in the carriers will facilitate the drying of the snells even when packed in the book. In case the plates should be enclosed in the book while the snells are still wet the said openings and the spaces between the superposed plates will admit a free circulation of air through the book and all of its contents;

The various advantages set forth are attained by an extremely simple, durable and compact carrier structure. While I have illustrated and described what I now consider the preferred form of my invention, I reserve the right to make such changes therein as will lie within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A carrier for snelled fish hooks coInprising a flat sheet metal frame formed with a relatively large central opening; a row when contracted and formed with snell engaging loops, the tongues formin cores for positioning and strengthening t e springs and the said frame hooks forming anchors for fish hooks, whereby when the snell loops are engaged with the spring loops the snells will be stretched across the frame opening.

2. A carrier for snelled fishhooks comprising a flat frame; a row of elongated tongues carried by the frame adjacent one end and formed with outwardly extending roots to dispose the tongues offset from the face of the frame and directed across the latter; helical tension springs anchored at the roots of the tongues, encircling the tongues, terminating substantially at the ends thereof when contracted and provided at their free ends with loops, the tongues forming cores for positioning and strengthening the springs; and anchor means carried by the frame and spaced across the latter from the tongues to cooperate with the springs for stretching the snells.

3. A carrier for snelled fish hooks comprising an open frame; a row of elongated tongues carried by the frame at one side of the frame opening and directed across the opening; helical tension springs anchored at the fixed ends of the tongues. encircling the tongues, terminating substantially at the A ends thereof when contracted and provided with snell-engaging loops, the tongues forming cores for positioning and strengthening the springs; and anchor means for fish hooks carried by the frame across the frame opening from the tongues to cooperate with the springs for holding the snells stretched across the opening. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WALTER L. KNETTLES.

of elongated tongues stamped from one of the end margins of the frame and formed with roots bent outward alternately in opposite directions to dispose the tongues offset alternately from opposite faces of the frame; a row of hooks stamped alternately from opposite faces of the opposite end margin of the frame, across the frame opening from the tongues and alining respectively with the latter and opening away from them; helical tension springs hooked to the roots of the tongues encircling the tongues, terminating substantially at the ends thereof 

